Touching 9/11 Tribute at Huntington School Board Meeting

Huntington School Board members hosted a touching 24th anniversary tribute to those who perished on 9/11 during their public meeting this past Monday night.

The terrorist strikes on September 11, 2001, hit the Huntington community hard. Many families lost loved ones and countless others were injured. Huntington High School saw six of its cherished alumni perish in the attacks.

Among Huntington High School’s lost alumni were Susan Clyne-Dietrich (1977), Dennis Edwards (1984), Michelle Titolo (1985), Michael Desmond McCarthy (1986), Judson Cavalier (1993) and Joe Anchundia (1993). The grads left behind families and friends who have never completely recovered from their loss.

At Monday night’s meeting, Huntington High School chamber choir members performed a pair of songs while standing on the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School stage. They were followed by a pair of trumpeters who performed “Taps.”

With all the vocalists dressed in black, the choir performed Francis Scott Key’s “The Star Spangled Banner” and Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” The group, which was directed by Charles Colasanti. The choirs is comprised of Soprano: Caleigh Camarata, Iliana Jarmolowski, Jessica Lee, Casey Myers; Alto: Emily Barba, Lauren Dopico, Rachel Huth, Avery Joynt, Ella Van Horn; Tenor: Michael DiVincenzo, Walter Lopez, Sergio Portillo; Bass: Kevin Dominguez, Dennis McCook. Alexander Tine

Liam LaVertu and Danna Garcia Martinez followed the vocalists on stage with their trumpets in hand. Standing on either side of the stage, the teenagers performed a moving rendition of “Taps.”

Between the two performances, Huntington School Board President Xavier Palacios addressed the crowd and asked for a moment of silence, recognizing the 3,000 innocent Americans lost in the terrorist strikes on September 11, 2001.

“What a wonderful honor and tradition to incorporate our amazing young musicians in our 9/11 celebration during our board meeting,” Director of Fine & Performing Arts Dr. Robert Wottawa said. “Our teachers work to provide our children with authentic performance opportunities, and this is just a small example the impact our teachers have on our children.”